Saving What’s Left Of Niagara’s Wetlands &Woodlands Is Our Responsibility To Future Generations

“Protecting our environment is not a radical idea. It is a moral responsibility.” – Vermont Senator and U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, May, 2015

This message, from one of my very few living heroes in politics, was echoed ever so eloquently by a number of representatives of the Indigenous community in the Niagara area at a rally this past July 7th to spare a large tract of forest and wetlands in Niagara Falls, Ontario from sprawling urban development.

“They call it development. I call it destruction,” Indigenous community member Karl Dockstader told those gathered at the rally to save what has become known to growing numbers of residents across Niagara and other regions of Ontario as the Thundering Waters Forest.

Just one little slice of the 200-plus acres of Thundering Waters Forest in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

“When our lives are over and it is time to return to the creator,” said Dockstader, “we can’t take anything with us but we can leave (this forest and the wetland within and around it) to our children.”

Another Indigenous speaker, Kelly Davis, who was at the rally representing members of the Cayuga Nation, mentioned the $1-billion figure that Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati and other area politicians and bureaucrats have tossed around to stress the dollar value of the so-called “Paradise” development to those in the region who want to build and enrich themselves from it.

They can make a billion dollars, Davis said, but a billion dollars will never by back the waters and other natural resources present and future generations need for survival.

Amen!

Niagara At Large will feature more commentary on the Thundering Waters Forest and related issues in the days and weeks ahead, including the need to convince the good people from China, who want to build this ‘Paradise’ project, to consider the possibility of a land swap so they can move forward on lands that are home to fewer of the special natural features we should all strive to protect.

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN. Niagara At Large encourages you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.

Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary for and from the greater bi-national Niagara region.

“A politician thinks of the next election. A leader thinks of the next generation.” – Bernie Sanders